Kobe Bryant is a leader, a competitor and a teacher. But his method of mentoring the Lakers so far this season has been about the youngsters watching Bryant take shots.

"They're one in the same," Bryant told CBS Sports. "Because they learn by observing how I approach it. They don't want to see me approach it as an average player, or approach it as a player who's 20 years in. They want to and need to see that focus and that intensity and that energy and that drive. That's how they learn. They've told me that. They want to see that. That's how they want to learn."

Bryant is shooting just 32 percent on an average of 16.2 shots per game through six contests for the Lakers (1-5). But at age 37 in his 20th year in the league, Bryant is still a leader by example.

"Do I really want to go to the gym and lift weights this morning?" he said. "No. But I get up and I do it anyway. And then I come to practice and say, 'Maybe I'll take a practice off. My back's a little tight.' And then I start competing and then I play the whole practice. That's just how it is."

He'll try to lead the Lakers to their second win of the season Tuesday against the Blazers.